While players naturally receive the utmost attention, strong training is a key component to a successful season. And for all their promising young talent, Arsenal have also discovered a comparable leader in Mikel Arteta. After a slow start to his absence (not counting his time as an assistant at Manchester City), the manager is now leading the Gunners at full speed.
But as your club enters a primary event, your influence on the game will be limited.
On Saturday, December 9, the Gunners will travel to Birmingham for a date with Aston Villa. But once things start, Arteta will no longer be on the bench with his troops.
What is the reason for this flagrant absence? Let’s analyze it.
Whether you’re watching club football or attending foreign competitions, you’re probably familiar with the concept of racking up yellow cards that lead to suspension. The concept is that if you receive multiple warnings, they add up to a more severe punishment.
In the Premier League, managers and coaches are subject to a similar setup. In their case, though, three bookings will prompt the first (one-match) touchline ban.
That’s why Arteta will watch from afar how Arsenal-Aston Villa fits in.
Beyond his yellow card in the Community Shield, Arteta picked up bookings against Fulham and Chelsea. His third admonition, however, comes under much happier circumstances.
During Arsenal’s most recent match, the Gunners escaped from Luton with all three points thanks to a Declan Rice header. The goal, which came virtually the last touch of the contest, sent the players and coaching staff into rapture. Arteta, though, apparently crossed the line and received a yellow card.
However, when asked about it, he doesn’t seem to have many complaints.
Mikel Arteta received his third yellow card of the season for celebrating too much and will now be in the stands at Villa Park. He told @CarrieBrownTV, “I couldn’t sit in my seat. It’s a natural emotion. If it’s a yellow card. . . . it’s yellow. ” #beINPL #LUTARS #AFC #Arsenal pic. twitter. com/Dv2W4ViIcz
And while Arteta’s fringe behaviour rubbed shoulders with some, social media is largely on his side.
“As a neutral that watched the game I didn’t even think he celebrated ENOUGH?” Reddit user Dubsified wrote in response to the r/soccer post about the suspension. That comment garnered plenty of community support, receiving more than 700 upvotes.
“What was he thinking when he celebrated a last-minute winner?” user official_bagel wrote, opting for a more sarcastic approach. “I’ve given him a sophisticated gesture of thanks and maybe a thumbs up if he was feeling particularly excited. “
“What did he do wrong?” user Godlop asked. He celebrated as any coach would in that situation. I’d notice if they left him on the field, but he didn’t. “
But whether you think the third card is deserved or not, it has been added to Arteta’s ledger. Now he has to pay the price with a throw-in ban.
And while it’s not the end of the aggregate – a bench ban means the coach can still be in the manager’s box, communicate with his players in the dressing room and even hear messages on the pitch – it’s still an added challenge for a tricky player. . trip to Villa Park.
Unai Emery is at the top of his team and, having ruled Manchester City in midweek, they will be eager to repeat the feat against Arsenal.
How vital is communication really? We’ll find out first-hand on Saturday thanks to Arteta’s suspension.
Joe Kozlowski is a resident of New York City and joined Newsweek in 2023 as the sports team director.
Joe previously worked at Sportscasting.com, where he served in a variety of writing and editing roles over the years. He has also had work published in VICE Sports, The New York Hockey Journal, and SLAM, among other publications. Joe is also a graduate of NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study and cut his teeth at NYU Local.
And while he’s into sports at times, Joe is passionate about taking the things that happen between the whistles and separating them. Whether it’s analyzing a trend in the field or learning a more important lesson from a potential remote event, it’s always imaginable. to attach the points for other fans.
You can get in touch with Joe by emailing [email protected]. Languages: English.
Joe Kozlowski is a resident of New York City and joined Newsweek in 2023 as the sports team director.